Pretzhel looked at Clifford wide-eyed. Her heart was hammering against her ribcage. What a shrewd way to evade the promise she made to his brother! That may be brilliant, but it's still a form of cheating, nonetheless.
But then again, all is fair in love and war.
She'd face her brother's anger and disappointment later. But right this very moment, Pretzhel will focus on the man kneeling in front of her. The man she's crazy in love with.
"Mula noong teenager ka pa, pinangarap ko na ito, sweetheart. Pinangarap ko nang ikaw ang magkasama ko habang buhay. And you'll never know the amount of hurt and disappointment in my heart when my mother told me that she knew who is the right girl for me. All my life I'd been wanting for that attention and care, for that level of concern for my welfare. She never bothered when I was young, but she suddenly did when I am old and capable. Of course, I still want their guidance. They are my parents, after all. But not in the matters of the heart. I already found the perfect girl for me and I won't- Oh shit!" biglang pumukit si Clifford. Huminga ito nang malalim saka muling tumingin sa kanya at nagsalita.
"I'm sorry. I know I should say or promise things to you about our future and not remind you of the ugly side of my family that will make you think twice about accepting my proposal. But I got so excited and all my emotions were jumbled inside. I'm all over the place when it comes to you, sweetheart." Lumunok si Clifford, halata ang nerbiyos sa mukha.
Pretzhel smiled, understanding in her eyes.
"We both know how I sucked with words. Baka imbes na mapapayag kitang pakasal sa akin ay lalo lang mapasama. Kaya sana okay lang sa iyo na ang sasabihin ko na lang ay mahal na mahal kita at hindi ko alam kung paano harapin ang bukas na wala ka sa piling ko, sweetheart." His eyes are full of love. Honest, pure and true.
And she realized that the same look in his eyes were always present. They never wavered. They never changed. Kahit noong teenager siya ay naroon iyon sa madalang na pagkakataong nahuhuli niya itong nakatitig sa kanya.
While his words may fail him, the emotions in his eyes never will. His actions never will. He cared for her, treated her as the most precious, most important thing in the world.
And from now on, Pretzhel promised to focus on what his eyes we're telling her, on the actions he was doing. Besides, sa kaso ni Clifford, mas angkop talaga ang 'Action speaks louder than words'.
Kasabay nang pagpatak ng mga luha niya ay ang pagkulong ng dalawang kamay niya sa mukha ni Clifford at walang pag-aalinlangang paghalik sa labi niyo. Tumugon si Cliff pero makalipas ang ilang sandali ay bumitaw sa kanya.
"Was that a yes, sweetheart?" he asked with hopeful eyes.
Naninikip ang lalamunan ni Pretzhel sa sobrang dami ng emosyon sa puso niya. Imbes na magsalita ay sunod-sunod na tango na lang ang ginawa niya.
Clifford kissed her before he slipped the ring in her finger. "Perfect fit, sweetheart," Clifford whispered. He then kissed her hand.
Noon lang tiningnan ni Pretzhel ang singsing na isinuot sa kanya ni Clifford. At napasinghap siya nang matitigan iyon. Napaka ganda! May malaking diamante sa gitna at may dalawang mas maliit na diamante sa magkabilang gilid. At maging sa mismong band ng singsing ay may naka-set din na maliliit na gemstones. The sparkle of her engagement ring is captivating!
Mula sa singsing ay tumingin siya kay Clifford, pero inunahan na kaagad siya nitong magsalita. "Please don't ask about the price, sweetheart. I told you, nothing would amount to how much you mean to me."
Pretzhel smiled amidst happy tears. Tumayo siya saka hiningit ding patayo si Clifford. Yuyuko na sana ito para halikan siya pero mabilis niya itong naitulak paupo sa sofa. She astride him before kissing him fully on the lips. Clifford groaned as his hands made their way in her body. Maiksi ang tassel dress na suot niya kaya malayang nahaplos ni Clifford ang hita niya, habang ang isa ay unti-unting tumaas hanggang sa makaabot sa likuran niya.
Kahit hindi inihiwalay ni Pretzhel ang mga labi kay Cliff ay nagawa niyang alisin ang mga butones ng long sleeve nito. Nang matanggal niya ang lahat butones ay saka lang niya inihiwalay ang labi sa fiancé. Huhubadin na niya ang long sleeve sa katawan nito nang hawakan nito ang kamay niya. "Nasa dock na tayo, sweetheart. At mayroon na lang akong kulang kalahating oras para maihatid ka sa casita."
Napatigil siya sa ginagawa. Nakaangat ang kilay na tumingin si Pretzhel sa fiancé. Ang isang kamay ay pumaloob sa buhok nito habang ang isa ay sa dibdib nito dumadama, "Talaga? Gusto mo akong ihatid sa casita? Sure ka?"
"Fuck!" Mabilis siyang nahawakan sa bewang at nahigit ni Clifford. Kung kanina ay sa binti lang nito siya nakaupo, ngayon ay direkta na sa mismong kandungan nito.
"Felt that?" anito, umulos pataas habang itinutulak pababa ang katawan niya. "Iyan ang totoong gusto ko, sweetheart, kaya wag mo akong tanungin ng ganyan kasi kung ako lang, hindi kita ihahatid. At kapag hindi tayo umalis dito sa yate ngayon, sinasabi ko sa iyong bukas na bukas din ay malalaman ng buong mundo na magiging Sales ka bago ulit magalit ang petsa. Are you ready for that, sweetheart?"
Ngumiti si Pretzhel. Itinaas niya ang kumikinang na singsing sa kamay niya. "Isn't this enough proof that I am ready, sweetheart?"
"Shit!"
Clifford grabbed her nape and kissed her carnally. Gumanti ng halik si Pretzhel habang inaalis ang pang-itaas ni Clifford. Nang mahubad iyon ay basta na lang niyang inihagis. At si Clifford man ay gano'n din ang ginawa. Ang kamay nito ay nagmamadaling ibinaba ang zipper ng dress niya. At dahil nakakandong siya rito ay hinubad nito ang dress pataas sa ulo niya. Tulad ng ginawa niya sa long sleeve nito ay basta na lang din inihagis ni Clifford ang tassel dress niya sa kung saan.
Pretzhel shivered. She's now in her lace undies and strapless bra. "This is very, very exciting but we forgot to close the blinds, sweetheart. And next time, we better make sure we do because I want you to make love to me in all parts of your yacht."
Expletives filled the salon as Clifford's grip on her body tightened.
Pretzhel giggled. "Perhaps we can start making love in your cabin's shower area, sweetheart."
"Fucking yes, we will!" Clifford declared raspily. Pagtayo ni Clifford ay iniikot niya ang binti sa bewang nito. Ang fiancé naman niya ay hinawakan siya sa puwitan habang ang isang kamay ay nakaalalay sa likod niya. Clifford claimed her lips as he blindly made his way to his cabin. Pagpasok doon ay si Pretzhel na mismo ang naglock ng pinto habang si Clifford ay busy sa paghalik sa leeg niya.
Pagdating sa shower area ay inalis niya ang pagkakaikot ng binti sa bewang ng fiancé. Maingat naman siyang ibinaba ni Clifford. Humakbang ito nang isang beses palayo sa kanya, saka siya pinasadahan ng humahangang tingin mula ulo, pababa. Pretzhel got choked up when their eyes met.
His eyes, they looked at her with passion and adoration.
"I'm one lucky man to have you, sweetheart."
Ngumiti si Pretzhel. Sasagot sana siya nang mapansin ang dibdib ni Clifford. Nanlalaki ang mga matang napalapit siya sa fiancé. Dinama ng daliri niya ang namumulang parte ng dibdib nito. Sa hugis at liit niyon ay alam niyang doon tumama ang heel ng suot na stiletto.
Kinagat niya ang labi saka nahihiyang tumingala rito. Marahan niyang dinadama ang dibdib nito saka hinalikan, "I'm so sorry, sweetheart."
"Masakit pa rin, sweetheart. Pwede mo pa bang halikan?" ani Clifford habang inaalis ang pagkaka-hook ng bra niya.
Pretzhel smiled. She knew Clifford doesn't even flinched with this kind of injury but she willfully and whole-heartedly complied. She angled her face, her eyes meeting his as she let her tongue touched his slightly injured chest, whilst her hands were busy loosening the button of his pants.
"That was so fucking hot, sweetheart," Clifford huskily murmured. His hands kneaded her bum.
Clifford helped her undress him. Ang kasunod noon ay ang pag-aalis naman ng lalaki sa nalalabing saplot sa katawan niya. Then they continued kissing each other under the shower. But their soft and unhurried kisses turned fiery after they finished lathering soap in each other's body.
"I like it when you kiss me this way, sweetheart," Pretzhel said while catching her breath. Clifford is busy sucking the base of her neck while her hands were all over his sinewy back, marveling about how firm and hard those muscles were.
"Oh, yeah?" Clifford asked as his lips traveled lower, now sucking the base of her breast. His hand also went down her body, past her soft curls until he reached her slit. Pretzhel bit her lip and moaned as Clifford's finger entered her body.
And her moan only got louder when he stopped sucking her chest, but was now busy sucking her clit. The water that cascaded her body was of no help in keeping her body temperature down.
She's blazing hot.
"Oh, sweetheart," Pretzhel countered the pumping of his fingers. And she didn't even try to lower down her whimpers every time Clifford hit that glorious spot.
Her blood was boiling with every flick of his tongue, with the way he sucked and nipped her clit and labia.
"Oh, gosh!" Pretzhel's grip on his hair tighten when he inserted another finger and rotated them inside her. A cry of pure delight drowned the noise of the shower as her body spasmed to glorious oblivion.
Clifford was able to caught her when her knees gave way. Pinatay nito ang shower, inabot ang tuwalya, matapos nitong tuyuin ang katawan nilang dalawa ay saka siya muling binuhat palabas sa shower area.
Ikinawit ni Pretzhel ang isang kamay sa batok ni Clifford. Isinubsob niya ang mukha sa leeg nito. She sucked the base of his neck real hard as her free hand caress his chest, her fingers toying with his nipple.
"Oh, shit! I like that you know just how to keep it going, sweetheart," Clifford uttered as he walked briskly. Faint sound of broken things filled the air as Clifford stepped on the things she earlier scattered.
Maingat siyang ibinaba ni Clifford sa kama.
"Shit! My proposal night was such a disaster. I planned to do that in front of all the people that matters to you. Then I failed to tell you what I really wanted to say. And now, I'm gonna make love to you in a room full of clatter. I'm sorry, sweet-"
It was now Pretzhel's turn to interrupt him. At dahil hindi nito inaasahan ang gagawin niya ay nahigit niya ito pahiga sa kama at nakubabawan niya.
"Your proposal was perfect, sweetheart. And forget the room, please. I'm the one who trashed it, anyway," Pretzhel murmured as her fingertips slowly traced his lips down to his chest. "And I would like to apologize for that, sweetheart."
Pretzhel moved above him. Her tongue darted and played with his nipple, while her other hand was busy tugging the other.
Clifford groaned. He fondled her body a lot harder that he used to. But with every touch, with every rub, her desire for him only gotten higher.
Tumigil siya sa paghalik sa dibdib nito saka tumitig sa mga mata ng fiancé. Her hands moved down south until she found her huge target. Pretzhel smiled as she moved above him.
"Fucking fuck! Sweetheart..." Itinukod ni Clifford ang mga siko sa kama para iangat ang sarili. "Are you-?"
"I hope this will suffice for an apology, sweetheart," Pretzhel murmured. She winked at him before her tongue swirled at his tip.
"Holy mother of fuck! You can trash the whole yacht, sweetheart!"